The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision to provide records of how the State Department investigates immigrants applying for benefits in order to find ties with terrorism. The court said the rules were created for law enforcement purposes and so exempt under the Freedom of Information Act. (Reuters, April 6, 2022, by Daniel Wiessner)
An inspector general appointed by then President Donald Trump ordered the omission of findings of domestic violence and sexual misconduct by officers in a report on the enforcement agencies of the Department on Homeland Security. One agency settled a complaint with a hefty payment, $255,000 in one case, but there was no evidence of an investigation or discipline of the person responsible. (The New York Times, April 7, 2022, by Chris Cameron) The same inspector
Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez is feeling the heat, accused by Mia Casey of violating the Brown Act by interrupting her while she was criticizing Velazquez for his treatment of the public. FAC’s David Loy said that Velazquez not only violated the Brown Act but also Casey’s right to free speech. (Benito Link, April 1, 2022, by John Chadwell) The Ventura city attorney said five members of the city council violated the Brown Act by discussing
The U.S. Senate Committee of the Judiciary agreed that the Freedom of Information Act is deficient as requests for information decrease but backlogs increase. (News Media Alliance, March 31, 2022, by Staff) The onset of the pandemic caused delays as certain records were not accessible and Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill. said the volume of e-mails and other electronic records make it impossible for humans to conduct searches and redactions needed for release. Durbin wanted to
An Ohio appeals court ruled that Oberlin College was on the hook for $25 million in punitive damages and $6 million in legal fees after a shop lifting incident in 2016 resulted in protests and charges of racism against a bakery. (Inside Higher Education, April 4, 2022, by Josh Moody) Several First Amendment groups filed amicus briefs in support of Oberlin and its right to free speech but the appellate court judges said the case